Three Air India aircrafts damaged by ground equipment at Delhi airport due to sudden storm
PTC News Desk: Three Air India narrowbody aircraft were damaged at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday after strong winds and heavy rain caused ground support equipment to break free and collide with parked planes, according to airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited.
The incident occurred around 4:40 pm at parking bays near Terminal 2. Airport officials said sudden adverse weather conditions caused a step ladder and trestles used by Air India and IndiGo ground handling and engineering teams to shift from their positions and strike the aircraft.
All three affected Air India A320 aircraft were immediately withdrawn from service for inspection and repairs. While two of the planes are expected to resume operations within a few days, one aircraft sustained significant damage and may remain grounded for an extended period.
DIAL stated that no prior weather warning had been issued by Air Traffic Control to either the airport operator or airlines before the storm. Such alerts typically allow airlines and ground crews to secure equipment on the tarmac ahead of severe weather.
Sources at the airport said the powerful winds and heavy rain displaced several pieces of ground support equipment, causing extensive damage. One source indicated that the stairwell area of an aircraft was particularly affected, necessitating detailed inspections and repairs.
An airline source told news agency PTI that aircraft belonging to other operators were also impacted by the severe weather conditions, in addition to the three Air India planes.
- With inputs from agencies
